FIFA To Investigate Football Federation Australia Over Bribe Allegation

July 1, 2010 | 0 Comments

Interesting news are out and it has been reported that Australian soccer bosses is set to face a FIFA probe over claims of bribery in order to win votes.

Allegations in the Sydney Morning Telegraph quote documents from Football Federation Australia that also detail payments of up to £6.4million to consultants if the bid for either the 2018 or 2022 World Cup is successful.

A statement said: “FIFA can confirm that it is looking into this matter. For the time being, FIFA cannot disclose any other details or make any further comment.”

The most damaging allegations concern gifts of pearl necklaces for the wives of FIFA executive committee members, and that they funded the travel costs of Trinidad and Tobago’s under-20 team to fly to Cyprus.

Football Federation Australia on their part said that the necklaces and cufflinks were given at a dinner before formal bidding had started as FIFA’s bidding rules allow gifts of “symbolic or incidental value”.

Aussie chairman Ben Buckley said: “It is a widely accepted common practice among governments, and many business and sporting organisations to provide symbolic gifts to visiting international delegations.”


(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images Europe)

Tags:

Category: International

«
»